Dr. Kalinsky on Ruxolitinib Plus Trastuzumab in HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Kevin Kalinsky, MD, assistant professor of Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, discusses a phase I study of ruxolitinib (Jakafi) in combination with trastuzumab (Herceptin) in metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer.

Ruxolitinib, a JAK2 inhibitor, was given in combination with trastuzumab to patients who have progressed on trastuzumab. This non-chemotherapy regimen is taken orally, familiar to patients previously who were treated with trastuzumab.

Results showed the combination was well tolerated without any observable toxicities. A multi-centered phase II trial is ongoing.